Bill Overview
Title: Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct research and development to identify U.S. critical domains for economic and homeland security and evaluate the extent to which disruption, corruption, exploitation, or dysfunction of any such domain poses a substantial threat to homeland security. The bill defines United States critical domains for economic security as the critical infrastructure and other associated industries, technologies, and intellectual property, or any combination thereof, that are essential to U.S. economic security. DHS may conduct additional research into high-risk critical domains under specified circumstances.
Sponsors: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Target Audience
Population: People reliant on critical infrastructure and economic security
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The bill focuses on U.S. critical domains for economic and homeland security, which implies a focus on industries and infrastructure that are fundamental to the country's security and economic activities.
- This could include sectors like energy, transportation, communications, manufacturing, banking, and agriculture, all considered critical infrastructure.
- Employees and stakeholders within these industries would be the primary population impacted by changes in legislation affecting how research and development on critical domains is conducted.
- The broader U.S. population, while indirectly impacted, relies on these critical infrastructures and would be affected by any threats or improvements in their security and resilience.
Reasoning
- The policy's impact will likely vary between individuals directly employed in critical infrastructure sectors and those indirectly reliant on these sectors.
- Industries such as energy and transportation may see a direct influence due to research and development aimed at identifying critical vulnerabilities.
- Jobs in manufacturing and banking will also be closely affected, with potential changes in operational security practices.
- The broader population may experience indirect benefits from enhanced homeland security, though changes in well-being may be less immediately noticeable.
- The policy budget allocation suggests significant investment in resource allocation towards safety and identifying vulnerabilities in critical sectors, aiming for systemic benefits over time.
Simulated Interviews
Energy Sector Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy could enhance the security protocols we're working with, making my job crucial in updating systems and reducing vulnerabilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public Transportation Planner (Portland, OR)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could facilitate better resource allocation, which is critical for planners like us to create safer and more efficient transit systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cybersecurity Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with efforts to bolster cybersecurity, which is critical for safeguarding both infrastructure and sensitive data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Bank Teller (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security improvements in banking infrastructure would help in building customer trust and are crucial given the sector's critical role in economic security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Agricultural Scientist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Research into infrastructure vulnerabilities is important, particularly as they relate to food production and distribution, which are vital for long-term security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Construction Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Identifying vulnerabilities in infrastructure could lead to improved safety and longevity of our projects, which benefits local economies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for addressing potential blind spots in our economic security strategies. The structured research can inform future policy decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Logistics Coordinator (Miami, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- By potentially streamlining supply chain security, the policy could mitigate disruption risks, which is crucial in our global economy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Military Officer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Securing critical economic domains is an extension of national defense, and this policy could strengthen the backbone of our national security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Communications Specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies that ensure robust communication networks are invaluable, as they support emergency response and everyday communications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 2: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 3: $1050000000 (Low: $950000000, High: $1150000000)
Year 5: $1100000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 10: $1150000000 (Low: $1050000000, High: $1250000000)
Year 100: $100000000000 (Low: $80000000000, High: $120000000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill's main costs are concentrated in research activities focusing on critical infrastructure, which has inherent variability based on the scope and depth of research.
- Long-term benefits like improved security and prevention of financial losses are difficult to quantify upfront.
- The nature of R&D means initial costs could be front-loaded, impacting budget allocations in the short term more than in later years.